Boxing bucks trend to get people into gyms in deprived areas

BOXING HAS bucked the trend to get people into gyms and help combat anti-social behaviour in deprived areas, a pioneering Yorkshire study has revealed.

A new report by England Boxing and Sheffield Hallam University reported how and why boxing clubs have been so successful in engaging with people in deprived areas and helping to combat antisocial behavioural problems,

Previous research shows that people in low socio-economic groups have frequently proven to be the hardest to engage in terms of getting them physically active on a regular basis.

However results revealed England Boxing has been able to buck that trend, with 40 per cent of member clubs situated in the 20 per cent most deprived areas of the country.

Ron Tulley, England Boxing’s head of development, said: “For many years people within boxing have known that the sport does a great job working in the toughest communities in England, often developing young people and steering them away from anti-social behaviour, but it’s been hard to explain to others exactly why that is.”

The study is based on interviews and evidence provided by a sample of 60 of the country’s clubs that are proactive in their respective communities.

Across Yorkshire eight boxing clubs were involved including The Hunslet Club and Unorthobox in Leeds, Rawthorpe Amateur Boxing Club, Huddersfield and Vulcan ABC in Hull. While in Sheffield Ingle Boxing Club, Aspire Boxing Club and Sheffield City ABC took part.

David Barrett, a researcher from Sheffield Hallam University said the results highlighted the importance of voluntary sports clubs to local communities.

He said one of the most significant challenges for sport development practitioners in recent years has been to find ways to engage with people from BAME groups, those from low-income backgrounds and young people who are at risk of becoming involved in crime or gang activity.

Mr Barrett said: “Boxing’s evident success in this area offers a blueprint for other sports”,

Sport England Chief Executive Tim Hollingsworth said the report can be a valuable tool for the sports sector as a whole.

He said: “Boxing is a sport with a really powerful opportunity to reach and engage with different audiences.”